Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Fenway, Eck

* The tentative interleague schedule for 2011 has the Padres in Fenway Park and the Twins' new ballpark in Minneapolis. The Red Sox series is a bonus of sorts as the Padres weren't scheduled to face the American League East next year. Going forward, the Padres should try to change out of the "natural rivalry" with the Mariners. There's no sizzle there.

* David Eckstein hit the ball sharply in early batting practice today, but he is still slowed by a calf strain. "He is four or five days from (attempting a) full sprint," said manager Bud Black.

* The Padres used the disabled list (or was it the deception list?) to buy extra rest for Mat Latos and later with Oscar Salazar to fix a roster snag. So, why not use the DL to replace Matt Stairs, who is batting .182 with a .247 on-base percentage? Admittedly, pinch-hitting is exceptionally difficult, yet it seems like Aaron Cunningham has more to offer. The DL would allow the Padres to retain Stairs, who reportedly is a mentor to several players, then activate him when the roster expands in September. With the addition of Ryan Ludwick, the Padres supposedly became more capable against right-handed pitching, which supposedly was a big part of why Stairs was signed last offseason.